Hugh O'Connor

I’m a data strategy and AI operating leader with experience building and scaling data ecosystems in complex, regulated environments. I’ve led enterprise data strategy, governance, and platform initiatives across technology, financial services, and data-driven marketplaces, working closely with executive teams to turn data into durable business advantage.

My work typically sits at the intersection of strategy, execution, and adoption. I define how data is sourced, governed, and used across organizations, and ensure systems are trusted enough to support real decision-making. I’ve built data functions from the ground up, scaled partner ecosystems, and led cross-functional teams through ambiguity, growth, and change.

I’m particularly interested in roles and conversations focused on enterprise data strategy, platform leadership, AI adoption, and high-stakes data partnerships, where judgment, structure, and execution matter more than hype.

I am a data strategy and AI operating leader with experience building and scaling enterprise data ecosystems in complex, regulated environments. I have led data strategy, governance, and platform initiatives that delivered material business impact, including building a data division from zero to 67 percent of company revenue and driving nine-figure value creation at Fortune 500 scale.

My background includes standing up greenfield data functions, scaling large partner and vendor ecosystems, and owning multi-million-dollar data portfolios. I have sourced and governed hundreds of third-party data partnerships, designed operating models for data quality and compliance, and worked closely with executive teams to ensure data systems were trusted, adopted, and tied to real decision-making.

I operate at the intersection of strategy and execution, partnering with product, engineering, legal, and commercial teams to turn data into durable business advantage. My focus is on enterprise data strategy, platform leadership, AI adoption, and high-stakes data partnerships where rigor, judgment, and measurable outcomes matter.

• M.Sc. Strategic Management & Planning  | UCD 
• B.Sc. Business & Management | TUD
• HDip in Science in Data Analytics | NCI